The American Adam: A Comparative Study.

This research examines the American Adam, the pioneer, as a remarkable image that incorporates the Anglo American tradition. It is a comparative reading of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man (1952) and Maxine Hong Kingston’s Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book (1989). The American Adam is an icon of innocence, perseverance and great expectations. He also signifies individualism. The American Adam endeavours to fulfill the American Dream of abundance and great achievements. This article traces the “polyphonic” dialogues of three American “unmerged” voices with respect to the individualism of the American Adam and his great expectations. Twain acknowledges Huck Finn the American Adam. Huck Finn’s innocence condemns the corrupt hypocrite society which renders him lonely. Such “lonesome” feeling, however, motivates Huck Finn to be a self reliant individual who enjoys the fulfillment of the American Dream.